Radnor Arms News
New Childrens play area now open.
We have now completed and opened our childrens' play area with a variety of timber attractions for every age group.
The Old Forge Wins Fine Farm Produce Award
The Old Forge Brewery, based at The Radnor Arms in the National Trust village of Coleshill in Oxfordshire have just won this prestigious award
The pub, originally a blacksmiths, was converted to a pub in 1949 and is now owned by the Trust.
The four-barrel micro-brewery was started in June this year in an old out-building by Alan Watkins.
Judges gave an award to a special three-pack of Old Forge Beer, made up of Anvil Ale, Blacksmith’s Gold and Hammer and Tongs.
The three beers are very distinctive, crafted from local barley and a variety of different hops – including Challenger, Fuggles and Progress - to old, traditional English recipes, explained Alan. “We only use natural products and no artificial ingredients and we don’t carbonate or pasteurise our beers either,” he added.
Judge Rob described the Anvil Ale as “refreshing, with long-lasting metallic bitterness” and the Blacksmith’s Gold as having “complex fresh flavours with strong wheat overtones”. But Hammer and Tongs was his favourite: “This is a good, satisfying beer, chestnut coloured with a subtle hoppy nose and smooth, slightly malty finish.”
The beers are currently on sale from The Old Forge and other local pubs and shops. Alan, who is aiming to produce around 5,000 bottles a year, said: “It’s excellent to win this award – having a quality mark from the National Trust will definitely drive interest in our beers.”
New Team at The Radnor Arms
This new enterprise is businessman Alan Watkins’ second venture into the micro-brewery industry in less than 16 months, as the renowned Halfpenny Brewery, behind the Crown Inn, Lechlade, is also his brainchild.
Patrons of the Grade II listed Radnor Arms, located between Faringdon and Highworth, are invited to come up with a name for this unique new brewery and four of its real ales. The person who names the brewery will win a meal for four with drinks included, at Colley’s Supper Rooms in Lechlade. The individuals who name the ales will be rewarded with £50 each plus a barrel of their beer, once it has been brewed.
“We want to involve customers in choosing a memorable name for The Radnor Arms new on-site brewery and its first four ales, so that they feel a sense of ownership and pride in what is produced here from the very beginning” explained the pub’s manager, Gemma Court .
All those wishing to enter the competition need to fill in an entry slip, available over the bar leaving their suggestions, name and contact details.
The pub, originally a blacksmith’s forge on the Coleshill Estate has retained much of its charm and still displays many old tools of the trade. It was only converted to a public house in 1949 and now comprises of a main bar area, a cosy snug and the larger Smithy bar, complete with crooked fireplace and dartboard.
With the backing of the National Trust and support of Coleshill’s residents, it can only be assumed that Alan Watkins and his team will achieve much success at The Radnor Arms, whatever the new brewery and its ales are called.
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We are delighted to welcome our Chef, Andrew to the team. He brings with him over 17 years of experience and passion.
Andrew has worked at The Telegraph, London; Exmoor Forest Inn, Devon and The Hare & Hounds in Westonburt.
He is dedicated in bringing you an excellent menu with specials that are changed every Friday and puddings that are changed every 2 weeks.
We will ensure there is always the most seasonal dishes available whilst using locally sourced ingredients
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Radnor Arms - Beer Festival
In conjunction with
The National Trust’s Coleshill Food Festival
held at the Granary on
11 September 2010,
From 11am - 11pm
15 Guest beers all from Local Breweries. Thanks to all that supported the event it was
a great success and hopefully held again next year
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Coleshill House - Coleshill Auxiliers - Seventy Years July 4th 2010
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New Micro Brewery to open at The Radnor Arms
We are delighted to announce that "The Forge" Micro Brewery should start brewing ale on site at The Radnor from July 2010.
Our locals came up with and agreed on the name and we feel it will be a perfect partner for this rural inn. We aim to brew several ales and we cant wait to share the 1st brew with you so watch this space.
The Forge was named by Dan Radusin and Alex Madden
The Ales we aim to brew are: Anvil Ale 3.8%. (Dennis Taylor), Sledgehammer 5% (Robert Marchant) Hammer & Tongs 4.2% (Steve & Lorraine Devlin) and Blacksmiths Gold 4% (Andy Witcher)
New Ales available from The Old Forge Brewery
Anvil Ale 3.8%
Sledgehammer 5.0%
(Ready 25 November 2010)
Hammer & Tongs 4.2%
Blacksmiths Gold 4.0%
